Photoresists, polymers and processes for microlithography

ABSTRACT

Photoresists and associated processes for microlithography in the extreme, far, and near UV are disclosed. The photoresists in some embodiments comprise (a) a fluorine-containing copolymer derived from at least one polycyclic ethylenically unsaturated compound and at least one compound having at least one fluorine atom covalently attached to an ethylenically unsaturated carbon atom; and (b) at least one photoactive component. In other embodiments, the photoresists comprise a fluorine-containing copolymer derived from at least one polycyclic ethylenically unsaturated compound having at least one atom or group covalently attached to a carbon atom contained within a ring structure and separated from each ethylenically unsaturated carbon atom of the ethylenically unsaturated compound by at least one covalently attached carbon atom, wherein the atom or group is selected from the group consisting of fluorine perfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkoxy.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/806,096 filed on Mar.23, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,593,058 which is incorporated by referencein its entirety.

Provisional application Ser. No. 60/280,268 filed on Mar. 30, 2001 isherein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to photoimaging and, in particular, theuse of photoresists (positive-working and/or negative-working) forimaging in the production of semiconductor devices. The presentinvention also pertains to novel fluorine-containing polymercompositions which are useful as base resins in resists and potentiallyin many other applications.

2. Description of Related Art

Polymer products are used as components of imaging and photosensitivesystems and particularly in photoimaging systems such as those describedin Introduction to Microlithography, Second Edition by L. F. Thompson,C. G. Willson, and M. J. Bowden, American Chemical Society, Washington,D.C., 1994. In such systems, ultraviolet (UV) light or otherelectromagnetic radiation impinges on a material containing aphotoactive component to induce a physical or chemical change in thatmaterial. A useful or latent image is thereby produced which can beprocessed into a useful image for semiconductor device fabrication.

Although the polymer product itself may be photoactive, generally aphotosensitive composition contains one or more photoactive componentsin addition to the polymer product. Upon exposure to electromagneticradiation (e.g., UV light), the photoactive component acts to change therheological state, solubility, surface characteristics, refractiveindex, color, electromagnetic characteristics or other such physical orchemical characteristics of the photosensitive composition as describedin the Thompson et al. publication supra.

For imaging very fine features at the submicron level in semiconductordevices, electromagnetic radiation in the far or extreme ultraviolet(UV) is needed. Positive working resists generally are utilized forsemiconductor manufacture. Lithography in the UV at 365 nm (I-line)using novolak polymers and diazonaphthoquinones as dissolutioninhibitors is a currently established chip technology having aresolution limit of about 0.35-0.30 micron. Lithography in the far UV at248 nm using p-hydroxystyrene polymers is known and has a resolutionlimit of 0.35-0.18 nm. There is strong impetus for futurephotolithography at even shorter wavelengths, due to a decreasing lowerresolution limit with decreasing wavelength (i.e., a resolution limit of0.18-0.12 micron for 193 nm imaging). Photolithography using 193 nmexposure wavelength (obtained from an argon fluorine (ArF) excimerlaser) is a leading candidate for future microelectronics fabricationusing 0.18 and 0.13 μm design rules. Photolithography using 157 nmexposure wavelength (obtained using an F₂ laser source) may be used forfuture microelectronics fabrication using 0.100 μm or less design rules.The opacity of traditional near UV and far UV organic photoresists at193 nm and shorter wavelengths precludes their use in single-layerschemes at these wavelengths.

Some resist compositions suitable for imaging at 193 nm are known. Forexample, photoresist compositions comprising cycloolefinmaleic anhydridealternating copolymers have been shown to be useful for imaging ofsemiconductors at 193 nm (see F. M. Houlihan et al, Macromolecules, 30,pages 6517-6534 (1997); T. Wallow et al., SPIE, Vol. 2724, pages355-364; and F. M. Houlihan et al., Journal of Photopolymer Science andTechnology, 10, No. 3, pages 511-520 (1997)). Several publications arefocused on 193 nm resists (i.e., U. Okoroanyanwu et al, SPIE, Vol. 3049,pages 92-103; R. Allen et al., SPIE, Vol. 2724, pages 334-343; andSemiconductor International, September 1997, pages 74-80). Compositionscomprising addition polymers and/or ROMP (ring-opening methathesispolymerization) of functionalized norbornenes have been disclosed (e.g.,PCT WO 97/33198 (Sep. 12, 1997) to B. F. Goodrich). Homopolymers andmaleic anhydride copolymers of norbornadiene and their use in 193 nmlithography have been disclosed (J. Niu and J. Frechet, Angew. Chem.Int. Ed., 37, No. 5, (1998), pages 667-670). No resist compositions forimaging at 157 nm have been disclosed.

Copolymers of fluoroolefin monomers and cyclic unsaturated monomers havebeen described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,177,166 and 5,229,473. These patentsdo not disclose the use of these copolymers in any photosensitivecompositions. Copolymers of certain fluorinated olefins with certainvinyl esters and vinyl ethers have been described. For example, thecopolymer of TFE with cyclohexanecarboxylate, vinyl ester is describedin Japanese Patent Appl. JP 03281664 and the copolymer of TFE andcyclohexyl vinyl ether is described in Japanese Patent Appl. JP54046286. Copolymers of TFE and vinyl esters, such as vinyl acetate, anduse of these copolymers in photosensitive compositions for refractiveindex imaging (e.g. holography) is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,471.Disclosures relating to copolymers comprising fluorinated olefins andvinyl esters of formula CH₂═CHO₂CR and vinyl ethers of formulaeCH₂═CHOCH₂R or CH₂═CHOR, have R groups with a C:H ratio that isrelatively low and which is less than 0.58.

Homopolymers and copolymers of certain monomers that possess propertiesof being both cyclic and fluorine-containing have been described as wellas their application as components in photodefinable fluorine-containingpolymer films in Japanese Kokai No Hei 9(1997)-43856. There is noteaching in this reference of homopolymers or copolymers comprised ofpolycyclic comonomers as photoresist components. Furthermore, there isno teaching that the compositions disclosed could be used inphotoresists with imaging effected at far UV wavelengths of less than180 nm.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,627 discloses a process for generating a negativetone resist image by coating a silicon wafer with a copolymer resistsolution of pentafluoropropyl methacrylate-t-butyl methacrylate in asolvent, and then exposing at 193 nm and developing with a carbondioxide critical fluid.

There is a critical need though for other novel resist compositions foruse at 193 nm or lower, and particularly at 157 nm, that have not onlyhigh transparency at these short wavelengths but also other suitable keyproperties, including good plasma etch resistance and adhesiveproperties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present photoresist in some embodiments comprises:

-   -   (a) a fluorine-containing copolymer comprising a repeat unit        derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated compound        characterized in that at least one ethylenically unsaturated        compound is polycyclic and at least one ethylenically        unsaturated compound contains at least one fluorine atom        covalently attached to an ethylenically unsaturated carbon atom;        and    -   (b) at least one photoactive component; wherein the        fluorine-containing copolymer does not contain aromatic        functionality but contains sufficient functionality to render        the photoresist developable so as to produce a relief image,        upon imagewise exposure to ultraviolet radiation having        wavelength of ≦365 nm.

In one preferred embodiment, at least one ethylenically unsaturatedcompound is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein:

each of m and n is 0, 1 or 2, p is an integer of at least 3;

a and b are independently 1 to 3 except that a is not=1 when b=2 or viceversa;

R¹ to R¹⁴ are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom,a halogen atom which can be any element of the halogen group but,typically, chlorine, fluorine or bromine, a carboxyl group, ahydrocarbon group of 1 to about 20 carbon atoms or a heteroatomsubstituted hydrocarbon group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms having one or moreheteroatoms which can be oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur;

R¹⁵ is a saturated alkyl group of about 4 to 20 carbon atoms, optionallycontaining one or more ether oxygen atoms with the proviso that theratio of carbon atoms to hydrogen atoms is greater than or equal to0.58;

R¹⁶ to R²¹ are each independently hydrogen atoms, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyls,(CH₂)_(q)CO₂A, CO₂(CH₂)_(q)CO₂A or CO₂A wherein q is 1 to 12 and A ishydrogen or an acid protecting group with the proviso that at least oneof R¹⁸ to R²¹ is CO₂A;

X is oxygen or a direct bond;

R_(f) is a straight chain or branched perfluoroalkyl group of from 1 to10 carbon atoms, optionally substituted by ether oxygen atoms. Theperfluoroalkyl group may be selected from the group consisting of CF₃,C₂F₅, and C₃F₇.

In a separate embodiment the invention comprises a photoresistcomprising:

(a) a fluorine-containing copolymer comprising a repeat unit derivedfrom a comonomer having the structure:

wherein m is 0, 1 or 2;

R¹ to R⁸ are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom,a halogen atom which can be any element of the halogen group but,typically, chlorine, fluorine or bromine, a carboxyl group, ahydrocarbon group of 1 to about 20 carbon atoms or a heteroatomsubstituted hydrocarbon group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms having one or moreheteroatoms which can be oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur;

-   -   X is oxygen or a direct bond;    -   R_(f) is a straight chain or branched perfluoroalkyl group of        from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and    -   (b) a photoactive component,        wherein the fluorine-containing copolymer contains sufficient        functionality to render the photoresist developable so as to        produce relief images, upon imagewise exposure to ultraviolet        radiation having a wavelength of ≦365 nm. In this photoresist,        the fluorine-containing copolymer may further comprises a repeat        unit derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated        compound containing at least one fluorine atom covalently        attached to an ethylenically unsaturated carbon atom.

The present photoresist in other embodiments comprises

-   -   (a) a fluorine-containing copolymer comprising a repeat unit        derived from at least one polycyclic ethylenically unsaturated        compound having at least one atom or group selected from the        group consisting of fluorine atom, perfluoroalkyl group, and        perfluoroalkoxy group, characterized in that the at least one        atom or group is covalently attached to a carbon atom which is        contained within a ring structure and separated from each        ethylenically unsaturated carbon atom of the ethylenically        unsaturated compound by at least one covalently attached carbon        atom; that is, the fluorine atom is not on the polymerizable        carbon-carbon double bond itself or a carbon atom next to that        double bond the fluorine atom is bonded to a saturated carbon        which saturated carbon atom is separated from that unsaturated        carbon atom by at least one saturated carbon atom; and    -   (b) at least one photoactive component;        wherein the fluorine-containing copolymer does not contain        aromatic functionality but contains sufficient functionality to        render the photoresist developable so as to produce a relief        image, upon imagewise exposure to ultraviolet radiation having        wavelength of ≦365 nm.

In another embodiment, the invention is a process for preparing aphotoresist image on a substrate comprising, in order:

-   -   (W) applying a photoresist composition on a substrate, wherein        the photoresist composition comprises:        -   (a) a fluorine-containing copolymer comprising a repeat unit            derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated compound            characterized in that at least one ethylenically unsaturated            compound is polycyclic and at least one ethylenically            unsaturated compound contains at least one fluorine atom            covalently attached to an ethylenically unsaturated carbon            atom, wherein the fluorine-containing copolymer contains            sufficient functionality to render the photoresist            developable so as to produce a relief image, upon imagewise            exposure to ultraviolet radiation having wavelength of ≦365            nm;        -   (b) at least one photoactive component; and        -   (c) a solvent;    -   (X) drying the the coated photoresist composition to        substantially remove the solvent and thereby to form a        photoresist layer on the substrate;    -   (Y) imagewise exposing the photoresist layer to form imaged and        non-imaged areas; and    -   (Z) developing the exposed photoresist layer having imaged and        non-imaged areas to form the relief image on the substate.

In another embodiment, the invention is a process for preparing aphotoresist image on a substrate comprising, in order:

-   -   (W) applying a photoresist composition on a substrate, wherein        the photoresist composition comprises:        -   (a) a fluorine-containing copolymer comprising a repeat unit            derived from at least one polycyclic ethylenically            unsaturated compound having at least one atom or group            selected from the group consisting of fluorine atom,            perfluoroalkyl group, and perfluoroalkoxy group,            characterized in that the at least one atom or group is            covalently attached to a carbon atom which is contained            within a ring structure and separated from each            ethylenically unsaturated carbon atom of the ethylenically            unsaturated compound by at least one covalently attached            carbon atom, wherein the fluorine-containing copolymer does            not contain aromatic functionality but contains sufficient            functionality to render the photoresist developable so as to            produce a relief image, upon imagewise exposure to            ultraviolet radiation having wavelength of <365 nm;        -   (b) at least one photoactive component; and        -   (c) a solvent;    -   (X) drying the coated photoresist composition to substantially        remove the solvent and thereby to form a photoresist layer on        the substrate;    -   (Y) imagewise exposing the photoresist layer to form imaged and        non-imaged areas; and    -   (Z) developing the exposed photoresist layer having imaged and        non-imaged areas to form the relief image on the substrate.

The developing step (Z) in the above processes can either benegative-working or positive-working.

In another embodiment, the invention is a fluorine-containing copolymercomprising:

-   -   (i) a repeat unit derived from at least one ethylenically        unsaturated compound containing at least one fluorine atom        covalently attached to an ethylenically unsaturated carbon atom;        and    -   (ii) a repeat unit derived from the group consisting of        CH₂═CHO₂CR¹⁵, CH₂═CHOCH₂R¹⁵ and CH₂═CHOR¹⁵, wherein R¹⁵ is a        saturated alkyl group of about 4 to 20 carbon atoms, optionally        containing one or more ether oxygens with the proviso that the        ratio of carbon atoms to hydrogen atoms is greater than or equal        to 0.58.

In still another embodiment, the invention is a fluorine-containingcopolymer comprising:

-   -   (i) a repeat unit derived from at least one ethylenically        unsaturated compound containing at least one fluorine atom        covalently attached to an ethylenically unsaturated carbon atom;        and    -   (ii) a repeat unit derived from a comonomer having the        structure:        wherein R¹⁶ to R²¹ are each independently hydrogen atoms, C₁ to        C₁₂ alkyls, (CH₂)_(q)CO₂A, CO₂(CH₂)_(q)CO₂A or CO₂A wherein q is        1 to 12 and A is hydrogen or an acid protecting group with the        proviso that at least one of R¹⁸ to R²¹ is CO₂A.

In still another embodiment, the invention is a fluorine-containingcopolymer comprising:

-   -   (i) a repeat unit derived from at least one ethylenically        unsaturated compound containing at least one fluorine atom        covalently attached to an ethylenically unsaturated carbon atom;        and

(ii) a repeat unit derived from a comonomer having the structure:

wherein m is 0, 1 or 2;

R¹ to R⁸ are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom,a halogen atom which can be any element of the halogen group but,typically, chlorine, fluorine or bromine, a carboxyl group, ahydrocarbon group of 1 to about 20 carbon atoms or a heteroatomsubstituted hydrocarbon group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms having one or moreheteroatoms which can be oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur;

X is oxygen or a direct bond;

R_(f) is a straight chain or branched perfluoroalkyl group of from 1 to10 carbon atoms, optionally substituted by ether oxygens.

A key characteristic of the copolymers (and photoresists comprised ofthe copolymers) of this invention is the cooperative combination ofpolycyclic repeat unit(s) with the same or different repeat units thatare fluorine containing and, furthermore, with all repeat units in thecopolymers not containing aromatic functionality. The presence ofpolycyclic repeat units in the copolymers is critical in order for thecopolymers to possess high resistance to plasma etching (e.g., reactiveion etching). Polycyclic repeat units also tend to provide a high glasstransition temperature which is critical for maintaining dimensionalstability in the resist films. The presence of repeat units that arefluorine-containing is critical in order for the copolymers to possesshigh optical transparency, i.e., to have low optical absorptions in theextreme and far UV. The absence of aromatic functionality in the repeatunits of the copolymers is also required in order for the polymers topossess high optical transparency.

In certain embodiments of this invention, the fluorine-containingcopolymer may be comprised of a repeat unit derived from at least onepolycyclic ethylenically unsaturated compound having at least one atomor group selected from the group consisting of fluorine atom,perfluoroalkyl group, and perfluoroalkoxy group, covalently attached toa carbon atom which is contained within a ring structure. Fluorineatoms, perfluoroalkyl groups and perfluoroalkoxy groups tend to inhibitpolymerization of cyclic ethylenically unsaturated compounds bymetal-catalyzed addition polymerization or metathesis polymerizationwhen such groups are attached directly to an ethylenically unsaturatedcarbon atom. Thus, it is critical in such cases that the at least onefluorine atom, perfluoroalkyl group and perfluoroalkoxy group beseparated from each ethylenically unsaturated carbon atom of theethylenically unsaturated compound by at least one covalently attachedcarbon atom. Furthermore, attaching the atom and/or group directly to aring minimizes the presence of undesirable non-fluorinated aliphaticcarbon atoms.

The copolymers of this invention surprisingly have balanced propertiesthat are critical for imparting necessary properties to photoresistcompositions for semiconductor applications. First, these copolymershave unexpectedly low optical absorptions in the extreme and far UV,including 193 nm and 157 nm wavelengths. Having copolymers with lowoptical absorptions is critical for formulating high photospeed resistswherein the major amount of UV light is absorbed by the photoactivecomponent(s) and not lost due to absorption by the copolymer (matrix ofthe resist). Second, resists comprising the fluorine-containing polymersof this invention desirably exhibit very low plasma etch rates. Thislatter property is critical in affording high resolution precisionresists that are required in semiconductor fabrication. Achievingsimultaneously suitable values of these properties is particularlycritical for imaging at 157 nm. In this case, ultra thin resists areneeded for high resolution, but these thin resists must nevertheless behighly etch resistant such that resist remains on imaged substrates andprotects areas of underlying substrate during etching.

The photoresist compositions of this invention have a particularly goodbalance of desirable properties, including high transparency to extreme,far, and near ultraviolet light, high plasma etch resistance, andprojected high resolution characteristics suitable for microelectronicsdevice fabrication using 0.18 and 0.13 μm design rules. The photoresistcompositions of this invention in particular have good opticaltransparency at 157 nm. The novel copolymers of this invention also havegood properties including anticipated high transparency at 157 nm andother wavelengths in the UV.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The present invention is a photoresist for microlithography comprising afluorine-containing copolymer and at least one photoactive component,wherein the fluorine-containing copolymer contains sufficientfunctionality to render the photoresist developable so as to produce arelief image, following imagewise exposure to ultraviolet radiationhaving wavelength of ≦365 nm. In some preferred embodiments, thesufficient functionality is selected from an acid (e.g., a carboxylicacid) and/or an acid protected group to render the exposed portions ofphotoresist soluble in basic solution upon exposure to sufficientultraviolet radiation having wavelength of ≦365 nm while the unexposedportions are insoluble in the basic solution. In this manner a reliefimage can be created using the photoresist. The present photoresists areuseful for 365 nm (I-line), 248 nm (KrF laser), and especially 193 nm(ArF laser) and 157 nm (F2 laser) microlithography. These photoresistsare critical in allowing for the imaging of feature sizes in thesub-01.0 micrometer range.

In the preferred embodiments of this invention, the photoresistcomposition comprises copolymers that comprise a repeat unit derivedfrom at least one polycyclic comonomer (i.e., a comonomer comprising atleast two rings, e.g., norbornene). This is important for three mainreasons: 1) polycyclic monomers have relatively high carbon to hydrogenratios (C:H), which results in base polymers comprised of repeat unitsof these polycyclic monomers generally having good plasma etchresistance; 2) polymers having repeat units derived from polyclicmonomers, which preferably can be fully saturated upon polymerization,generally have good transparency characteristics; and 3) polymersprepared from polycyclic monomers usually have relatively high glasstransition temperatures for improved dimensional stability duringprocessing. The ethylenically unsaturated group may be contained withinthe polycyclic moiety as in norbornene or may be pendant to thepolycyclic moiety as in 1-adamantane carboxylate vinyl ester. A polymercomprised of repeat units derived from polycyclic comonomers, havinghigh C:H ratios, has a relatively low Ohnishi number (O.N.), where:O. N.=N/(N_(C)-N_(O))with N being the number of atoms in the repeat unit of the polymer,N_(C) being the number of carbon atoms in the repeat unit of thepolymer, and N_(O) being the number of oxygen atoms in the repeat unitof the polymer. There is an empirical law discovered by Ohnishi et al.(J. Electrochem. Soc., Solid-State Sci. Technol. ,130,143 (1983) whichstates that the reactive ion etch (RIE) rate of polymers is a linearfunction of the Ohnishi number (O.N.). As one example, poly(norbornene)has formula (C₇H₁₀)_(n) and the O.N.=17/7=2.42. Polymers comprisedpredominantly of carbon and hydrogen having polycyclic moieties andrelatively little functionality containing oxygen will have relativelylow O.N.s and will, according to the empirical law of Ohnishi, havecorresponding low (in an approximate linear manner) RIE rates.

As is well known to those skilled in the polymer art, an ethylenicallyunsaturated compound undergoes free radical polymerization to afford apolymer having a repeat unit that is derived from the ethylenicallyunsaturated compound. Specifically, an ethylenically unsaturatedcompound having structure:

that undergoes free radical polymerization will afford a polymer havinga repeat unit:

where P, Q, S, and T independently can represent, but are not limitedto, H, F, Cl, Br, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl and cycloalkyl.

If only one ethylenically unsaturated compound undergoes polymerization,the resulting polymer is a homopolymer. If two or more distinctethylenically unsaturated compounds undergo polymerization, theresulting polymer is a copolymer.

Some representative examples of ethylenically unsaturated compounds andtheir corresponding repeat units are given below:

In the sections that follow, the photoresist compositions of thisinvention are described in terms of their component parts.

Fluorine-Containing Copolymer

The photoresists of this invention comprise a fluorine-containingcopolymer comprising a repeat unit derived from at least oneethylenically unsaturated compound which is polycyclic and at least oneethylenically unsaturated compound contains at least one fluorine atomcovalently attached to an ethylenically unsaturated carbon atom.Representative ethylenically unsaturated compounds that are suitable forthe fluorine-containing copolymers of this invention include, but arenot limited to, tetrafluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene,hexafluoropropylene, trifluoroethylene, vinylidene fluoride, vinylfluoride, perfluoro-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole),perfluoro-(2-methylene-4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane, CF₂═CFO(CF₂)_(t)CF═CF₂,where t is 1 or 2, and R_(f)OCF═CF₂ wherein R_(f) is a saturatedfluoroalkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms. Thefluorine-containing copolymers of this invention can be comprised of anyintegral number of additional fluorine-containing comonomers, whichinclude, but are not limited to, those listed supra. Preferredcomonomers are tetrafluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene,hexafluoropropylene, trifluoroethylene and R_(f)OCF═CF₂, wherein R_(f)is a saturated fluoroalkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms.More preferred comonomers are tetrafluoroethylene,chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and R_(f)OCF═CF₂, whereinR_(f) is a saturated perfluoroalkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbonatoms. Most preferred comonomers are tetrafluoroethylene andchlorotrifluoroethylene.

In some preferred embodiments, the fluorine-containing copolymer of thephotoresists of this invention further comprises a repeat unit derivedfrom at least one unsaturated compound selected from the group ofstructures H—O:

wherein:

each of m and n is 0, 1 or 2, p is an integer of at least 3;

a and b are independently 1 to 3 except that a is not=1 when b=2 or viceversa;

R¹ to R¹⁴ are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom,a halogen atom which can be any element of the halogen group but,typically, chlorine, fluorine or bromine, a carboxyl group, ahydrocarbon group of 1 to about 20 carbon atoms or a heteroatomsubstituted hydrocarbon group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms having one or moreheteroatoms which can be oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur. More specifically,the hydrocarbon groups can be straight chain or branched chain,paraffinic or olefinic, alicyclic or aromatic. Suitable heteroatomsinclude oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur. An example of a hydrocarbon groupcontaining oxygen as a heteroatom is an alkyl carboxylate containingabout 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, more specifically a secondary ortertiary alkyl carboxylate containing about 2 to 14 carbon atoms or analkoxy group containing from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms.

R¹⁵ is a saturated alkyl group of about 4 to 20 carbon atoms, optionallycontaining one or more ether oxygens with the proviso that the ratio ofcarbon atoms to hydrogen atoms is greater than or equal to 0.58.

R¹⁶ to R²¹ are each independently hydrogen atoms, C₁ to C₁₂ alkyls,(CH₂)_(q)CO₂A, CO₂(CH₂)_(q)CO₂A or CO₂A wherein q is 1 to 12 and A ishydrogen or an acid protected group with the proviso that at least oneof R¹⁸ to R²¹ is CO₂A.

X is oxygen or a direct bond.

R_(f) is a straight chain or branched chain perfluoroalkyl group of from1 to 10 carbon atoms, optionally substituted by at least on ether oxygenatom. The perfluoroalkyl group can be CF₃, C₂F₅, or C₃F₇.

Structures H—O above represent additional possible comonomers of thefluorine-containing polymers in the photoresists of this invention.

Representative comonomers having structure H include, but are notlimited to:

Representative comonomers having structure I include, but are notlimited to:

Representative comonomers having structure J include, but are notlimited to:

Representative comonomers having structure K include, but are notlimited to:

Representative comonomers having structure L include, but are notlimited to:

Representative comonomers having structure M include, but are notlimited to:

All of the inventive copolymers comprising comonomers having structuresK, L and M are characterized in being copolymers comprising fluorinatedolefins and vinyl esters of formula CH₂═CHO₂CR or vinyl ethers offormulae CH₂═CHOCH₂R or CH₂═CHOR, having R groups with a C:H ratio thatis relatively high and which is greater than 0.58 since a high C:H ratiocorresponds to good plasma etch resistance. (To distinguish them fromcopolymers comprising fluorinated olefins and vinyl esters of formulaCH₂═CHO₂CR or vinyl ethers of formulae CH₂═CHOCH₂R or CH₂═CHOR, have Rgroups with a C:H ratio that is relatively low and which is less than0.58.

Representative comonomers having structure N include, but are notlimited to:

where A=H, (CH₃)₃C, (CH₃)₃Si.

Representative comonomers having structure O, include but are notlimited to:

Such comonomers may be conveniently prepared by cycloaddition ofnorbornadiene with perfluoropropylvinyl ether, perfluoromethylvinylether or hexafluoropropylene, respectively.

In preferred embodiments described above having at least one unsaturatedcompound of structure H—O as the second recited comonomer, there is alimitation on the second comonomer if (and only if) thefluorine-containing copolymer is not comprised of additionalcomonomer(s) having functionality that is selected from a carboxylicacid and a protected acid group. In this case, the fluorine-containingcopolymer has just two comonomers (the two recited comonomers and havingno additional unrecited comonomers). In this case, there must besufficient functionality that is selected from a carboxylic acid and aprotected acid group present in the at least one unsaturated compound(i.e., the second recited comonomer) such that the photoresists of thisinvention that are comprised of the fluorine-containing polymer aredevelopable upon imagewise exposure as explained in more detail infra.In these embodiments with the fluorine-containing copolymer having justtwo comonomers, the mole percentages of the two comonomers in thecopolymer can range from 90%, 10% to 10%, 90% for the fluoromonomer(first recited monomer) and the second comonomer, respectively.Preferably, the mole percentages of the two comonomers are in the rangefrom 60%, 40% to 40%, 60% for the fluoromonomer (first recited monomer)and the second comonomer, respectively.

The fluorine-containing copolymers comprising the photoresists of thisinvention can be comprised of any integral number without limit ofadditional comonomers beyond the two recited comonomers (i.e., (i) atleast one ethylenically unsaturated compound containing at least onefluorine atom covalently attached to an ethylenically unsaturated carbonatom; and (ii) at least one unsaturated compound selected from the groupof structures H—N) for some embodiments. Representative additionalcomonomers can include, but are not limited to, acrylic acid,methacrylic acid, t-butyl acrylate, t-butyl methacrylate, t-amylacrylate, t-amyl methacrylate, isobutyl acrylate, isobutyl methacrylate,ethylene, vinyl acetate, itaconic acid, and vinyl alcohol. In thoseembodiments where the fluorine-containing copolymer has two recitedcomonomers and is comprised of three or more comonomers, the molepercentage of the second recited comonomer (i.e., (ii) at least oneunsaturated compound selected from the group of structures H—N) rangesfrom about 20 mole % to about 80 mole %, preferably ranges from about 30mole % to about 70 mole %, more preferably ranges from about 40 mole %to about 70 mole %, and still most preferably is about 50 to about 70mole %. Summation of the mole percentages of all other comonomersconstituting the copolymer represents a balance that when added to themole percentage of the second recited comonomer totals 100%. The sum ofthe mole percentages of all other comonomers present in the copolymerexcept for the second recited comonomer broadly is in the range fromabout 80 mole % to about 20 mole %. Preferably, the sum of the molepercentages of all other comonomers is in the range from about 70 mole %to about 30 mole %. More preferably, the sum of the mole percentages ofall other comonomers is in the range from about 60 mole % to about 30mole %, and, still more preferably, the sum of the mole percentages ofall other comonomers is in the range from about 50 mole % to about 30mole %. When the fluorine-containing polymer is a terpolymer, a suitableratio of the fluoromonomer (first recited monomer) to the additionalcomonomer can broadly range from 5:95 to 95:5. When thefluorine-containing copolymer contains additional comonomers havingfunctionality of acid groups or protected acid groups in sufficientamounts necessary for developability, the functionality can be presentor absent in the second recited comonomer without limitation.

A given fluorine-containing copolymer, comprised of a repeat unitderived from a comonomer having at least one fluorine atom attached toan ethylenically unsaturated carbon atom, of the photoresistcomposition(s) of this invention can be prepared by free radicalpolymerization. Polymers may be prepared by bulk, solution, suspensionor emulsion polymerization techniques known to those skilled in the artusing free radical initiators, such as azo compounds or peroxides.

A given fluorine-containing copolymer, containing only repeat unitsderived from all cyclic comonomers and totally lacking a repeat unitderived from a comonomer that has one or more fluorine atom(s) attachedto an ethylenically unsaturated carbon atom(s), of the photoresistcomposition(s) of this invention can also be prepared by free radicalpolymerization, but in addition can be prepared by other polymerizationmethods, including vinyl-addition polymerization and ring-openingmethathesis polymerization (ROMP). Both of the latter polymerizationmethods are known to those skilled in the art. Vinyl-additionpolymerization using nickel and palladium catalysts is disclosed in thefollowing references: 1) Okoroanyanwu U.; Shimokawa, T.; Byers, J. D.;Willson, C. G. J. Mol. Catal. A: Chemical 1998, 133, 93; 2) PCT WO97/33198 (Sep. 12, 1997) assigned to B. F. Goodrich; 3) Reinmuth, A.;Mathew, J. P.; Melia, J.; Risse, W. Macromol. Rapid Commun. 1996, 17,173; and 4) Breunig, S.; Risse, W. Makromol. Chem. 1992, 193, 2915.Ring-opening metathesis polymerization is disclosed in references 1) and2) supra using ruthenium and irridium catalysts; and also in 5) Schwab,P.; Grubbs, R. H.; Ziller, J. W. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 100; and6) Schwab, P.; France, M. B.; Ziller, J. W.; Grubbs, R. H. Angew. Chem.Int. Ed. Engl. 1995, 34, 2039.

Some of the fluorine-containing bipolymers of the resist compositions ofthis invention, where the bipolymer contains a fluoromonomer (e.g., TFE)and a cyclic olefin (e.g., norbornene) appear to be alternating orapproximately alternating bipolymers having a structure, but not limitedto, the one shown below:

In such cases, the invention includes these alternating or approximatelyalternating copolymers but is not in any manner limited to justalternating copolymer structures.

Photoactive Component (PAC)

The compositions of this invention contain at least one photoactivecomponent (PAC) that usually is a compound that affords either acid orbase upon exposure to actinic radiation. If an acid is produced uponexposure to actinic radiation, the PAC is termed a photoacid generator(PAG). If a base is produced upon exposure to actinic radiation, the PACis termed a photobase generator (PBG).

Suitable photoacid generators for this invention include, but are notlimited to, 1) sulfonium salts (structure I), 2) iodonium salts(structure II), and 3) hydroxamic acid esters, such as structure III.

In structures I-II, R_(a)-R_(c) are independently substituted orunsubstituted aryl or substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀ alkylaryl(aralkyl). Representative aryl groups include, but are not limited to,phenyl and naphthyl. Suitable substituents include, but are not limitedto oxygen atom such that the substituent group can be hydroxyl (—OH) orC₁-C₂₀ alkyloxy (e.g., C₁₀H₂₁O). The anion Y— in structures I-II can be,but is not limited to, SbF₆— (hexafluoroantimonate), CF₃SO₃—(trifluoromethylsulfonate=triflate), and C₄F₉SO₃—(perfluorobutylsulfonate).Protective Groups for Removal by PAC Catalysis

The fluorine-containing copolymers of the resist compositions of thisinvention may contain one or more components having protected acidgroups that can yield, by catalysis of acids or bases generatedphotolytically from photoactive compounds (PACs), hydrophilic acid orbase groups which enable development of resist coatings. A givenprotected acid group is one that is normally chosen on the basis of itsbeing acid labile, such that when photoacid is produced upon imagewiseexposure, the acid will catalyze deprotection and production ofhydrophilic acid groups that are necessary for development under aqueousconditions. In addition, the fluorine-containing copolymers may alsocontain acid functionality that is not protected.

Examples of components having protected acid groups that yield acarboxylic acid as the hydrophilic group upon exposure to photogeneratedacid include, but are not limited to, A) esters capable of forming, orrearranging to, a tertiary cation, B) esters of lactone, C) acetalesters, D) β-cyclic ketone esters, E) α-acyclic ether esters, and F)MEEMA (methoxy ethoxy ethyl methacrylate) and other esters which areeasily hydrolyzable because of anchimeric assistance. Some specificexamples in category A) are t-butyl ester, 2-methyl-2-adamantyl ester,and isobornyl ester. Some specific examples in category B) areγ-butyrolactone-3-yl, γ-butyrolactone-2-yl, mavalonic lactone,3-methyl-γ-butyrolactone-3-yl, 3-tetrahydrofuranyl, and 3-oxocyclohexyl.Some specific examples in category C) are 2-tetrahydropyranyl,2-tetrahydrofuranyl, and 2,3-propylenecarbonate-1-yl. Additionalexamples in category C) include various esters from addition of vinylethers, such as, for example, ethoxy ethyl vinyl ether, methoxy ethoxyethyl vinyl ether, and acetoxy ethoxy ethyl vinyl ether.

Examples of components having protected acid groups that yield analcohol as the hydrophilic group upon exposure to photogenerated acid orbase include, but are not limited to, t-butoxycarbonyl (t-BOC), t-butylether, and 3-cyclohexenyl ether.

In this invention, often, but not always, the components havingprotected groups are repeat units having protected acid groups that havebeen incorporated in the base copolymer resins of the compositions (asdiscussed supra). Frequently the protected acid groups are present inone or more comonomer(s) that are polymerized to form a givencopolymeric base resin of this invention. Alternatively, in thisinvention, a copolymeric base resin can be formed by copolymerizationwith an acid-containing comonomer and then subsequently acidfunctionality in the resulting acid-containing copolymer can bepartially or wholly converted by appropriate means to derivatives havingprotected acid groups. As one specific example, a copolymer ofTFE/NB/t-BA (copolymer of tetrafluoro-ethylene, norbornene, and t-butylacrylate) is a copolymeric base resin within the scope of the inventionhaving t-butyl ester groups as protected-acid groups.

Dissolution Inhibitors and Additives

Various dissolution inhibitors can be utilized in this invention.Ideally, dissolution inhibitors (DIs) for far and extreme UV resists(e.g., 193 nm resists) should be designed/chosen to satisfy multiplematerials needs including dissolution inhibition, plasma etchresistance, and adhesion behavior of resist compositions comprising agiven DI additive. Some dissolution inhibiting compounds also serve asplasticizers in resist compositions.

A variety of bile-salt esters (i.e., cholate esters) are particularlyuseful as DIs in the compositions of this invention. Bile-salt estersare known to be effective dissolution inhibitors for deep UV resists,beginning with work by Reichmanis et al. in 1983. (E. Reichmanis et al.,“The Effect of Substituents on the Photosensitivity of 2-NitrobenzylEster Deep UV Resists”, J. Electrochem. Soc. 1983, 130, 1433-1437.)Bile-salt esters are particularly attractive choices as DIs for severalreasons, including their availability from natural sources, theirpossessing a high alicyclic carbon content, and particularly for theirbeing transparent in the deep and vacuum UV region, (which essentiallyis also the far and extreme UV region), of the electromagnetic spectrum(e.g., typically they are highly transparent at 193 nm). Furthermore,the bile-salt esters are also attractive DI choices since they may bedesigned to have widely ranging hydrophobic to hydrophiliccompatibilities depending upon hydroxyl substitution andfunctionalization.

Representative bile-acids and bile-acid derivatives that are suitable asadditives and/or dissolution inhibitors for this invention include, butare not limited to, those illustrated below, which are as follows:cholic acid (IV), deoxycholic acid (V), lithocholic acid (VI), t-butyldeoxycholate (VII), t-butyl lithocholate (VII), and t-butyl-3-α-acetyllithocholate (IX). Bile-acid esters, including compounds VII-IX, arepreferred dissolution inhibitors in this invention.

The invention is not limited to use of bile-acid esters and relatedcompounds as dissolution inhibitors. Other types of dissolutioninhibitors, such as various diazonaphthoquinones (DNQs) anddiazocoumarins(DCs), can be utilized in this invention in someapplications. Diazanaphthoquinones and diazocoumarins are generallysuitable in resists compositions designed for imaging at higherwavelengths of UV light (e.g., 365 nm and perhaps at 248 nm). Thesedissolution inhibitors are generally not preferred in resistcompositions designed for imaging with UV light at 193 nm or lowerwavelengths, since these compounds absorb strongly in this region of theUV and are usually not sufficiently transparent for most applications atthese low UV wavelengths.

Components for Negative-Working Photoresist Embodiment

Some embodiments of this invention are negative-working photoresists.These negative-working photoresists comprise at least one binder polymercomprised of acid-labile groups and at least one photoactive componentthat affords photogenerated acid. Imagewise exposure of the resistaffords photogenerated acid which converts the acid-labile groups topolar functionality (e.g., conversion of ester functionality (lesspolar) to acid functionality (more polar)). Development is then done inan organic solvent or critical fluid (having moderate to low polarity),which results in a negative-working system in which exposed areas remainand unexposed areas are removed.

A variety of different crosslinking agents can be employed as requiredor optional photoactive component(s) in the negative-workingcompositions of this invention. (A crosslinking agent is required inembodiments that involve insolubilization in developer solution as aresult of crosslinking, but is optional in preferred embodiments thatinvolve insolubilization in developer solution as a result of polargroups being formed in exposed areas that are insoluble in organicsolvents and critical fluids having moderate/low polarity). Suitablecrosslinking agents include, but are not limited to, various bis-azides,such as 4,4′-diazidodiphenyl sulfide and 3,3′-diazidodiphenyl sulfone.Preferably, a negative-working resist composition containing acrosslinking agent(s) also contains suitable functionality (e.g.,unsaturated C═C bonds) that can react with the reactive species (e.g.,nitrenes) that are generated upon exposure to UV to produce crosslinkedpolymers that are not soluble, dispersed, or substantially swollen indeveloper solution, which consequently imparts negative-workingcharacteristics to the composition.

Solvents:

The photoresists of this invention may be formulated with a solvent suchas chlorobenzene, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone or propylene glycolmethyl ether acetate. A solvent can be chlorobenzene and methyl ethylketone or propylene glycol methyl ether acetate and cyclohexanone.

Other Components

The compositions of this invention can contain optional additionalcomponents. Examples of additional components which can be addedinclude, but are not limited to, bases, surfactants, resolutionenhancers, adhesion promoters, residue reducers, coating aids,plasticizers, and T_(g) (glass transition temperature) modifiers. Someuseful bases include tributylamine, tripentylamine, trihexylamine,triheptylamine, trioctylamine, benzimidazole, 4-phenylpyridine,4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether, nicotinamide, 1-piperidinoethanol,triethanolamine, 3-piperidino-1,2-propanediol,2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinol, tetrabutylammonium hydroxide,tetrabutylammonium acetate, and tetrabutylammonium lactate. Some usefulsurfactants include perfluorooctanoic acid ammonium salt,perfluorononanoic acid ammonium salt, ZONYL® (Trade name of DuPont) FSA,FSN, FSO, and FSK fluorosurfactants, polyoxyethylene stearylether,polyoxyethylene oleyl ether, polyoxyethylene octylphenyl ether,polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether, polyethylene glycol dilaurate,polyethylene glycol distearate, alkylbenzene sulphonates, sodiumsulfosuccinate, and sodium lauryl sulfate.

Process Steps

Imagewise Exposure

The photoresist compositions of this invention are sensitive in theultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum and especially tothose wavelengths ≦365 nm. Imagewise exposure of the resist compositionsof this invention can be done at many different UV wavelengthsincluding, but not limited to, 365 nm, 248 nm, 193 nm, 157 nm, and lowerwavelengths. Imagewise exposure is preferably done with ultravioletlight of 248 nm, 193 nm, 157 nm, or lower wavelengths; is morepreferably done with ultraviolet light of 193 nm, 157 nm, or lowerwavelengths; and is still more preferably done with ultraviolet light of157 nm or lower wavelengths. Imagewise exposure can either be donedigitally with a laser or equivalent device or non-digitally with use ofa photomask. Digital imaging with a laser is preferred. Suitable laserdevices for digital imaging of the compositions of this inventioninclude, but are not limited to, an argon-fluorine excimer laser with UVoutput at 193 nm, a krypton-fluorine excimer laser with UV output at 248nm, and a fluorine (F2) laser with output at 157 nm. Since, as discussedsupra, use of UV light of lower wavelength for imagewise exposurecorresponds to higher resolution (lower resolution limit), the use of alower wavelength (e.g., 193 nm or 157 nm or lower) is generallypreferred over use of a higher wavelength (e.g., 248 nm or higher).Specifically, imaging at 157 nm is preferred over imaging at 193 nm forthis reason.

Development

The fluorine-containing polymers in the resist compositions of thisinvention must contain sufficient functionality for developmentfollowing imagewise exposure to UV light. Preferably, the functionalityis acid or protected acid such that aqueous development is possibleusing a basic developer such as sodium hydroxide solution, potassiumhydroxide solution, or ammonium hydroxide solution. Some preferredfluorine-containing polymers in the resist compositions of thisinvention are acid-containing copolymers or homopolymers comprised of atleast one acid-containing monomer of structural unit:

in which E₁ is H or C₁-C₁₂ alkyl; E₂ is CO₂E₃, SO₃E, or other acidicfunctional group; and E and E₃ are H or C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, which isunsubstituted or hydroxyl-substituted. Alkyl groups can contain one totwelve carbon atoms and preferably one to eight. A preferredacid-containing binder polymer for aqueous processability (aqueousdevelopment) in use is a carboxylic acid-containing copolymer. The levelof carboxylic acid groups is determined for a given composition byoptimizing the amount needed for good development in aqueous alkalinedeveloper.

When an aqueous processable photoresist is coated or otherwise appliedto a substrate and imagewise exposed to UV light, development of thephotoresist composition may require that the binder material shouldcontain sufficient acid groups (e.g., carboxylic acid groups) and/orprotected acid groups that are at least partially deprotected uponexposure to render the photoresist (or other photoimageable coatingcomposition) processable in aqueous alkaline developer. In case of apositive-working photoresist layer, the photoresist layer will beremoved during development in portions which are exposed to UV radiationbut will be substantially unaffected in unexposed portions duringdevelopment by aqueous alkaline liquids such as wholly aqueous solutionscontaining 0.262 N tetramethylammonium hydroxide (with development at25° C. usually for less than or equal to 120 seconds) or 1% sodiumcarbonate by weight (with development at a temperature of 30° C. usuallyfor less than 2 or equal to 2 minutes). In case of a negative-workingphotoresist layer, the photoresist layer will be removed duringdevelopment in portions which are unexposed to UV radiation but will besubstantially unaffected in exposed portions during development usingeither a critical fluid or an organic solvent.

A critical fluid, as used herein, is one or more substances heated to atemperature near or above its critical temperature and compressed to apressure near or above its critical pressure. Critical fluids in thisinvention are at least at a temperature that is higher than 15° C. belowthe critical temperature of the fluid and are at least at a pressurehigher than 5 atmosphers below the critical pressure of the fluid.Carbon dioxide may be used for the critical fluid in the presentinvention. A comonomer having structure O particularly when R_(f) is alonger chain fluoroalkyl group, more particularly C₃F₇, may beespecially useful with supercritical carbon dioxide. Various organicsolvents can also be used as developer in this invention. These include,but are not limited to, halogenated solvents and non-halogenatedsolvents. Halogenated solvents are preferred and fluorinated solventsare more preferred.

GLOSSARY Chemicals/Monomers AA Acrylic acid Aldrich Chemical Co.,Milwaukee, WI AdVE 1-Adamantanemethylvinyl Ether AIBN2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile Aldrich Chemical Co., Milwaukee, WI CFC-1131,1,2-Trichlorotrifluoroethane (E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company,Wilmington, DE) MAA Methacrylic acid Aldrich Chemical Co., Milwaukee, WIMEK 2-Butanone Aldrich Chemical Co., Milwaukee, WI TFETetrafluoroethylene (E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington,DE) NB Norbornene = Bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene Aldrich Chemical Co.,Milwaukee, WI E Ethylene NB—CO₂H 5-Norbornene-2-carboxylic acid =Bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylic acid (Aldrich Chemical Co.) NB—CO₂^(t)Bu 5-Norbornene-2-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester = tertiary-Butylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5- ene-2-carboxylate THF Tetrahydrofuran AldrichChemical Co., Milwaukee, WI Perkadox ® 16 NDi-(4-tert-butylcyclohexyl)peroxydicarbonate Noury Chemical Corp., Burt,NY TBA Tertiary-Butyl acrylate TCB Trichlorobenzene Aldrich ChemicalCo., Milwaukee, WI VAc Vinyl acetate Aldrich Chemical Co., Milwaukee, WIVOH Vinyl alcohol Vazo ® 52 2,4-Dimethyl-2,2′-azobis(pentanenitrile) (E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, DE) PGMEA Propyleneglycol methyl ether acetate Aldrich Chemical Co., Milwaukee, WI GeneralExtreme UV Region of the electromagnetic spectrum in the ultravioletthat ranges from 10 nanometers to 200 nanometers Far UV Region of theelectromagnetic spectrum in the ultraviolet that ranges from 200nanometers to 300 nanometers UV Ultraviolet region of theelectromagnetic spectrum which ranges from 10 nanometers to 390nanometers Near UV Region of the electromagnetic spectrum in theultraviolet that ranges from 300 nanometers to 390 nanometers M_(n)Number-average molecular weight of a given polymer M_(w) Weight-averagemolecular weight of a given polymer P = M_(w)/M_(n) Polydispersity of agiven polymer Polymers P(TFE/NB) Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-norbornene) = copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and norborneneP(TFE/NB—CO₂H) Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co- norbornene carboxylic acid)= copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and norbornene carboxylic acid, wherethe CO₂H moiety can be substituted at any position of the NB—CO₂Hcomonomer of the polymer P(TFE/NB/NB—CO₂H) Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-norbornene-co-norbornene carboxylic acid) = copolymer oftetrafluoroethylene, norbornene, and norbornene carboxylic acid, wherethe CO₂H moiety can be substituted at any position of the NB—CO₂Hcomonomer of the polymer P(TFE/NB/AA) Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-norbornene-co-acrylic acid) P(TFE/NB/E) Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-norbornene-co-ethylene) P(TFE/NB/MAA) Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-norbornene-co-methacrylic acid) P(TFE/NB/tBA)Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co- norbornene-co-t-butyl acrylate)P(TFE/NB/tBA/AA) Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co- norbornene-co-t-butylacrylate-co- acrylic acid) P(TFE/NB/tBA/MAA)Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co- norbornene-co-t-butyl acrylate-co-methacrylic acid) P(TFE/NB/VAc) Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-norbornene-co-vinyl acetate) P(TFE/NB/VOH) Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-norbornene-co-vinyl alcohol) P(TFE/NB/5-NB-2-Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co- CO₂tBu) norbornene-co-5-norbornene-2-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester) P(TFE/1-Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-1- AdCO₂CH═CH₂) adamantane-carboxylate vinylester) P(TFE/AdVE) Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-1- adamantanemethylvinylether) P(TFE/NBVether) Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-2-norbornanemethylvinyl ether) StructuresPerfluoro-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole)

Perfluoro-(2-methylene-4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane)

EXAMPLES

Unless otherwise specified, all temperatures are in degrees Centigrade,all mass measurements are in grams, and all percentages are weightpercentages.

Inherent viscosities were measured using a Cannon AutoVisc II automatedviscosity system (Cannon Instrument Company, State College, Pa. 16804)in the indicated solvents, generally at 35° C. and 1% concentration, andare reported in units of dL/g. Glass transition temperatures (T_(g)s)were determined by DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) using aheating rate of 20° C./min, data is reported from the second heat. TheDSC unit used is a Model DSC2910 made by TA Instruments, Wilmington,Del.

Example 1 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene Copolymer=P(TFE/NB)

A 1-L stirred Hastelloy autoclave was charged with a solution of 28.2 g(0.30 mol) norbornene in 300 mL CFC-113. The autoclave was closed,pressured to 200 psi with nitrogen three times, cooled and evacuated.TFE (35 g, 0.35 mol) was added and the mixture was heated with stirringto 40° C. A 25 mL portion of a solution of 5.0 g of 60%di(sec-butyl)peroxydicarbonate in 50 mL of CFC-113 was injected over 5min. The resulting mixture was stirred for about 18 hr. The reactor wascooled, vented and the clear colorless solution was removed usingCFC-113 to rinse. Polymer was isolated by precipitation of the CFC-113solution into excess methanol. The white solid was filtered and dried ina vacuum oven overnight at about 45° C. Isolated yield was 7.4 g ofwhite polymer; GPC (MEK) Mw 2800, Mn 1700, Mw/Mn 1.59; Inh. Visc. 0.0271(MEK). Anal. Found: C, 54.27; H, 5.28; F, 30.81. From the % H, thecomposition of the polymer was calculated as 49 mol % TFE and 51 mol %norbornene.

Example 2 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene Copolymer=P(TFE/NB)

A 400 mL stainless steel pressure vessel was charged with a solution of33 g (0.35 mol) norbornene in 120 mL of CFC-113. Perkadox® 16 N (1.20 g)was added. The vessel was closed, purged with nitrogen, cooled,evacuated and charged with 40 g (0.40 mol) TFE. The vessel was heatedwith shaking to 50° C. and maintained for 18 hr with the internalpressure decreasing from 200 psi to 167 psi. The vessel was cooled,vented and the liquid contents recovered using additional CFC-113 torinse. Polymer was isolated by precipitation of the CFC-113 solutioninto excess methanol. The white solid was filtered and dried in a vacuumoven overnight at about 65° C. Isolated yield was 29.7 g (41%) of whitepolymer; GPC (MEK) Mw 10000, Mn 2900, Mw/Mn 3.57; Inh. Visc. 0.0130(MEK). Anal. Found: C, 54.60; H, 5.05; F, 31.21. From the % C, thecomposition of the polymer was calculated as 52 mol % TFE and 48 mol %norbornene.

Example 3 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene Copolymer=P(TFE/NB)

The procedure of Example 2 was followed using 47 g (0.5 mol) norbornene,120 mL CFC-113, 1.6 g Perkadox® 16N and 50 g (0.50 mol) TFE withpolymerization conducted at 40° C. for 18 hr. There was isolated 19.7 g(20%) of white polymer; GPC (MEK) Mw 10600, Mn 3700; Mw/Mn 2.89; Inh.Visc. 0.0195 (MEK); Tg 152° C. (DSC). Anal. Found: C, 58.33; H, 5.63; F,33.13. From the % C analysis, composition of the polymer was calculatedas 46 mol % TFE and 54 mol % norbornene.

Example 4 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene Copolymer=P(TFE/NB)

The procedures and reagents from Example 3 were followed with thepolymerization conducted at 50° C. There was isolated 34 g (35%) ofwhite polymer; GPC (MEK) Mw 6000, Mn 2500, Mw/Mn 2.38; Inh. Visc. 0.048(MEK); Tg 151° C. (DSC). Anal. Found: C, 56.60; H, 5.38; F, 31.57. Fromthe % C analysis, composition of the polymer was calculated as 49 mol %TFE and 51 mol % norbornene.

Example 5 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene Copolymer=P(TFE/NB)

The procedure of Example 2 was followed using 42.3 g (0.45 mol)norbornene, 100 mL of CFC-113, 1.5 g Perkadox® 16N and 50 g (0.50 mol)TFE. There was isolated 36 g (39%) of white polymer; GPC (MEK) Mw 6700,Mn 2800, Mw/Mn 2.37; Inh. Visc. 0.035 (MEK); Tg 151° C. (DSC). Anal.Found: C, 54.11; H, 5.36; F, 32.83. From the % C analysis, compositionof the polymer was calculated as 52 mol % TFE and 48 mol % norbornene.

Example 6 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene Copolymer=P(TFE/NB)

The procedure of Example 2 was followed using 28.2 g (0.30 mol)norbornene, 100 mL of CFC-113, 1.5 g Perkadox® 16N and 70 g (0.70 mol)TFE. There was isolated 58.7 g (60%) of white polymer; GPC (MEK) Mw24200, Mn 8700, Mw/Mn 2.79; Inh. Visc. 0.037 (MEK); Tg 146.5° C. (DSC).Anal. Found: C, 50.60; H, 4.51; F, 37.34. From the % C analysis,composition of the polymer was calculated as 58 mol % TFE and 42 mol %norbornene.

Example 7 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene/VAc Terpolymer=P(TFE/NB/VAc)

The procedure of Example 2 was followed using 37.6 g (0.40 mol)norbornene, 8.6 g (0.1 mol) VAc, 120 mL of CFC-113, 1.6 g of Perkadox®16N and 50 g of TFE. There was isolated 45.9 g (48%) of white polymer;GPC (MEK) Mw 16600, Mn 4300; Mw/Mn 3.84; Inh. Visc. 0.0489 (MEK); Tg124.3° C. (DSC). Anal. Found: C, 53.07; H, 4.99; F, 29.63. ¹³C NMR (δ,TCB) 168 (C═O), 112 to 126 (CF₂), 62 to 80 (CH), 20 to 50 (remainingcarbons). From integration of appropriate peaks in this spectrum, thepolymer was found to contain 41 mol % TFE, 46 mol % norbornene and 12mol % VAc.

Example 8 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene/VAc Terpolymer=P(TFE/NB/Vac)

The procedure of Example 2 was followed using 28.2 g (0.30 mol)norbornene, 12.9 g (0.15 mol) VAc, 100 mL of CFC-113, 1.5 g of Perkadox®16N and 50 g of TFE. There was isolated 55.1 g (60%) of white polymer;GPC (MEK) Mw 15200, Mn 6300; Mw/Mn 2.4; Inh. Visc. 0.0531 (MEK); Tg101.3° C. (DSC). Anal. Found: C, 50.98; H, 5.00; F, 31.59. ¹³C NMR (δ,TCB) 168 (C═O), 112 to 126 (CF₂), 62 to 80 (CH), 20 to 50 (remainingcarbons). From integration of appropriate peaks in this spectrum, thepolymer was found to contain 43 mol % TFE, 38 mol % norbornene and 20mol % VAc.

Example 9 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene/VAc Terpolymer=P(TFE/NB/VAc)

The procedure of Example 2 was followed using 21.2 g (0.225 mol)norbornene, 19.4 g (0.225 mol) VAc, 100 mL of CFC-113, 1.5 g ofPerkadox® 16N and 50 g of TFE. There was isolated 57.2 g (63%) of whitepolymer; GPC (MEK) Mw 22000, Mn 7900; Mw/Mn 2.8; Inh. Visc. 0.0694(MEK); Tg 91.7° C. (DSC). Anal. Found: C, 48.62; H, 4.74; F, 29.98. ¹³CNMR (δ, TCB) 168 (C═O), 112 to 126 (CF₂), 62 to 80 (CH), 20 to 50(remaining carbons). From integration of appropriate peaks in thisspectrum, the polymer was found to contain 43 mol % TFE, 28 mol %norbornene and 29 mol % VAc.

Example 10 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene/VAc Terpolymer=P(TFE/NB/VAc)

The procedure of Example 2 was followed using 14.1 g (0.15 mol)norbornene, 25.8 g (0.30 mol) VAc, 100 mL of CFC-113, 1.5 g of Perkadox®16N and 50 g of TFE. There was isolated 72.7 g (81%) of white polymer;GPC (MEK) Mw 34600, Mn 12300; Mw/Mn 2.8; Inh. Visc. 0.156 (MEK); Tg75.6° C. (DSC). Anal. Found: C, 44.24; H, 3.99; F, 36.90.

Example 11 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene/Ethylene Terpolymer=P(TFE/NB/E)

A 400 mL stainless steel pressure vessel was charged with 14.1 g (0.15mol) norbornene, 100 mL CFC-113 and 1.13 g Perkadox® 16N. The vessel wasclosed, purged with nitrogen, cooled, evacuated and charged with 4.2 g(0.15 mol) ethylene and 45 g (0.45 mol) tetrafluoroethylene. The vesselwas heated to 50° C. and shaken for 18 hr. The vessel was cooled to roomtemperature, vented and the contents were recovered as a clear liquidusing additonal CFC-113 to rinse. The polymer was precipitated by addingthe CFC-113 solution to excess methanol. The solid was filtered anddried in a vacuum oven at 65° C. overnight. There was isolated 33.8 g(53%) of white polymer; GPC (MEK) Mw 18600, Mn 8600, Mw/Mn 2.17; Inh.Visc. 0.0892 (MEK); Tg 92.1° C. Anal. Found: C, 50.15; H, 4.73, F,39.91.

Example 12 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene/Ethylene Terpolymer=P(TFE/NB/E)

The procedure of Example 11 was followed using 18.8 g (0.20 mol)norbornene, 100 mL CFC-113, 1.5 g Perkadox® 16N, 5.6 g (0.20 mol)ethylene and 60 g (0.60 mol) tetrafluoroethylene. The product mixturewas a milky solution which was added to excess methanol to precipitatethe polymer. There was isolated 55.9 g (66%) of white polymer; GPC (MEK)Mw 22200, Mn 10300, Mw/Mn 2.15; Inh. Visc. 0.0940 (MEK); Tg 98.7° C.Anal. Found: C, 47.80; H, 4.39, F, 42.79.

Example 13 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene/Ethylene Terpolymer=P(TFE/NB/E)

The procedure of Example 11 was followed using 28.2 g (0.20 mol)norbornene, 100 mL CFC-113, 1.5 g Perkadox® 16N, 2.8 g (0.10 mol)ethylene and 60 g (0.60 mol) tetrafluoroethylene. The product mixturewas a clear solution which was added to excess methanol to precipitatethe polymer. There was isolated 41.0 g (45%) of white polymer; GPC (MEK)Mw 16400, Mn 7000, Mw/Mn 2.3; Inh. Visc. 0.0660 (MEK); Tg 131.9° C.Anal. Found: C, 52.01; H, 4.85, F, 34.55.

Example 14 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene/Ethylene/tert-Butyl AcrylateTetrapolymer=P(TFE/NB/E/tBA)

The procedure of Example 11 was followed using 23.5 g (0.25 mol)norbornene, 6.4 g (0.05 mole) tert-butyl acrylate, 100 mL CFC-113, 1.5 gPerkadox® 16N, 2.8 g (0.10 mol) ethylene and 60 g (0.6 mol)tetrafluoroethylene. The product mixture was a clear liquid which wasadded to excess methanol to precipitate the polymer. There was isolated35.8 g (39%) of white polymer; GPC (MEK) Mw 13700, Mn 7000, Mw/Mn 1.96;Inh. Visc. 0.0830; Tg 108° C. Anal. Found: C, 57.47; H, 6.11; F, 24.40.Full polymer composition could not be determined by ¹³C NMR due tooverlapping resonances. However, the mole ratio of TFE to tert-butylacrylate was found to be 3.0 to 1.0 from integration of peaks at 112 to124 ppm (CF₂) versus 80 ppm (CH).

Example 15 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene/tert-Butyl AcrylateTerpolymers=P(TFE/NB/tBA)

The procedure of Example 2 was followed using 33.9 g (0.35 mol)norbornene, 6.4 g (0.05 mol) tert-butyl acrylate, 100 mL CFC-113, 1.5 gPerkadox® 16N and 60 g (0.60 mol) of tetrafluoroethylene. The productmixture was a clear liquid which was added to excess methanol toprecipitate the polymer. There was isolated 27.8 g (28%) of whitepolymer; GPC (MEK) Mw 11100, Mn 5600, Mw/Mn 1.99; Inh Visc. 0.0462(MEK); Tg 130° C. Anal. Found: C, 60.39; H, 6.72; F, 28.00. ¹³C NMR (δ,TCB) 166 to 178 (C═O), 112 to 124 (CF₂), 80 (CH), 22 to 54 (remainingcarbons). From integrations of appropriate resonances, the polymercomposition was found to be 36 mol % TFE, 17 mol % tert-butyl acrylateand 47 mol % norbornene.

Example 16 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene/tert-Butyl AcrylateTerpolymers=P(TFE/NB/tBA)

The procedure of Example 2 was followed using 28.2 g (0.30 mol)norbornene, 12.8 g (0.05 mol) tert-butyl acrylate, 100 mL CFC-113, 1.5 gPerkadox® 16N and 60 g (0.60 mol) of tetrafluoroethylene. The productmixture was a clear liquid which was added to excess methanol toprecipitate the polymer. There was isolated 28.8 g (29%) of whitepolymer; GPC (MEK) Mw 16100, Mn 7500, Mw/Mn 2.15; Inh Visc. 0.0862(MEK); Tg 115° C. Anal. Found: C, 62.32; H, 7.53; F, 18.98. ¹³C NMR (δ,TCB) 166 to 178 (C═O), 112 to 124 (CF₂), 80 (CH), 22 to 54 (remainingcarbons). From integrations of appropriate resonances, the polymercomposition was found to be 28 mol % TFE, 34 mol % tert-butyl acrylateand 38 mol % norbornene.

Example 17 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene/5-Norbornene-2-carboxylic Acidtert-butyl ester Terpolymer=P(TFE/NB/5-NB-2-CO2tBu)

5-norbornene-2-carboxylic acid, tert-butyl ester was prepared as acomonomer for this polymer synthesis example using the procedure whichfollows: To a single neck 300 mL round bottom flask was added a solutionof freshly cracked cyclopentadiene (15.5 g, 230 mmol) and tert-butylacrylate (29.4 g, 229 mmol) in xylene (85 g). The reaction mixture washeated at reflux for 8 hours under nitrogen; the product was thenfractionally distilled using a spinning band distillation column(boiling point 44-46° C. @0.4-0.5 mm Hg). Yield of5-norbornene-2-carboxylic acid, tert-butyl ester was 30 g (67%).

The polymerization procedure of Example 2 was followed using 37.6 g(0.40 mol) norbornene, 19.4 g (0.10 mol) 5-norbornene-2-carboxylic acid,tert-butyl ester, 1.6 g Perkadox® 16N, 120 mL CFC-113 and 50 g (0.50mol) TFE. The product mixture was a clear liquid which was added toexcess methanol to precipitate the polymer. There was isolated 18.6 g(17%) of white polymer; GPC (MEK) Mw 4300, Mn 2300, Mw/Mn 1.9; Inh.Visc. 0.040 (MEK); Tg 171° C. Anal. Found: C, 59.26; H, 6.00; F, 29.16.From integrations of appropriate ¹³C NMR resonances, the polymercomposition was found to be 42 mol % TFE, 17 mol %5-norbornene-2-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester and 41 mol % norbornene.

Example 18 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene/5-Norbornene-2-carboxylic acidTerpolymer=P(TFE/NB/5-NB-2-CO2H)

The procedure of Example 2 was followed using 37.6 g (0.40 mol)norbornene, 13.8 g (0.10 mol) 5-norbornene-2-carboxylic acid, 120 mLCFC-113, 1.6 g Perkadox® 16N and 50 g (0.50 mol) TFE. The productmixture was a clear liquid which was concentrated in vacuum to about 213of the original volume and added to excess methanol to precipitate thepolymer. The white solid was washed with several portions of methanoland dried. There was isolated 6.8 g (6.7%) of white polymer; GPC (MEK)Mw 3800, Mn 2400, Mw/Mn 1.6; Inh. Visc. 0.0373 (MEK); Tg 166° C. Anal.Found: C, 58.07; H, 5.59; F, 30.73. From integrations of appropriate ¹³CNMR resonances, the polymer composition was found to be 41 mol % TFE, 8mol % 5-norbornene-2-carboxylic acid and 51 mol % norbornene.

Example 19 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene/Acrylic AcidTerpolymer=P(TFE/NB/AA)

The procedure of Example 2 was followed using 37.6 g (0.040 mol)norbornene, 7.2 g (0.10 mol) acrylic acid, 1.5 g Perkadox® 16N, 100 mLCFC-113 and 50 g (0.50 mol) TFE. Product mixture consisted of a clearliquid, a cloudy liquid underneath and a white solid on the surface. Thewell agitated mixture was added in small portions to excess hexane toprecipitate polymer. There was isolated 18.9 g (20%) of white polymer;GPC (THF) Mw 9700; Mn 5300; Mw/Mn 1.8; Inh. Visc. 0.157 (THF); Tg 165.3°C. Anal. Found: C, 58.60; H, 6.20; F, 18.95.

Example 20 Synthesis of TFE/1-Adamantanecarboxylate Vinyl EsterDipolymer=P(TFE/1-AdCO2CH═CH2)

The synthesis of 1-adamantanecarboxylate vinyl ester has been describedby S. Nozakura et al., in J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Chem. Ed., Vol. 11,pages 1043-11051 (1973). This compound was prepared from1-adamantanecarboxylic acid (Aldrich Chemical Co.) and vinyl acetateusing a catalyst of bipyridine palladium diacetate andethybenzenesulfonic acid according to the procedure disclosed in F. J.Waller, U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,172 (1993).

A 200 mL stainless steel pressure vessel was charged with 8.2 g (0.04mol) of 1-adamantane carboxylic acid, vinyl ester, 40 mL oftert-butanol, 20 mL of methyl acetate, and 0.1 g Vazo® 52. The vesselwas closed, purged with nitrogen, cooled, evacuate and charged with 6 g(0.06 mol) tetrafluoroethylene. The vessel contents were agitated for 18hr at 50° C. The vessel was cooled to room temperature and vented. Thevessel contents were transferred to a glass jar using acetone to rinse.The product mixture was a cloudy solution containing a gummy solid. Thismixture was added to excess methanol and the white precipitate solid wasfiltered off and dried in a vacuum oven overnight. There was isolated3.7 g (26%) of white polymer; GPC (THF) Mw 48700, Mn 23400, Mw/Mn 2.08;Tg 151° C. Anal. Found: C, 63.85; H, 6.98; F, 16.82. From the % Canalysis, the polymer composition was calculated to be 38 mole % TFE and62 mole % adamantane carboxylic acid, vinyl ester.

Example 21 Synthesis of TFE/Norbornene/Vinyl AlcoholTerpolymer=P(TFE/NB/VOH)

A 20 g portion of the polymer prepared in Example 8 was dissolved in 200mL of THF with stirring and heated to about 60° C. A solution of 5 g ofsodium hydroxide pellets dissolved in 15 mL water and 15 mL methanol wasadded in portions over 0.5 hr. The resulting solution was heated at agentle reflux for 4 hr. After standing at room temperature overnight,the solution was added to excess 1N aqueous hydrochloric acid and ice.The precipitated polymer was filtered, washed with several portions ofwater and dried in a vacuum oven with nitrogen purge at 70-75° C.overnight. There was isolated 16.7 g of white polymer; GPC (THF) Mw11700, Mn 3600, Mw/Mn 3.25; Inh. Visc. 0.0901 (THF); Tg 115.8° C. Anal.Found: C, 52.92; H, 5.34; F, 33.52.

Example 22 Measurement of Plasma Etch Rates

Polymer samples were dissolved in PGMEA or chlorobenzene, spin coated at3000 rpm for 1 min onto silicon wafers and the coated wafer then bakedon a hot plate for 50 sec at 90° C. The plasma etch resistance of thespin coated polymers was then evaluated by exposure to a CF₄/O₂ plasma(pressure=150 mtorr, CF₄/O₂=40/7.1 sccm, source power=300 W, 483 V DCBias). The plasma etch rate was determined by protecting a portion ofthe coated wafer with a microscope slide or cover slip; the wafer wasthen exposed to the CF₄/O₂ plasma for a given length of time and thethickness change of the unprotected resist vs. resist protected underthe glass slide measured using an Alpha-Step 200 Stylus Profilometerwith a 5μ tip stylus. The etch rate was usually measured at twodifferent exposure times (e.g. 1.5 min and 3.0 min) and found to differslightly. For comparison purposes, results obtained for a commercialNovolak resin (Borden Inc.) at two different exposure times areincluded. Etch rates reported relative to Novolak use the “better” ofthe two Novolak etch rates (i.e., 1716 Å/min).

Concentration Exposure time Etch rate Copolymer Spinning of spinning inCF₄/O₂ Etch Rate relative to (Example #) solvent sample plasma (min)(A/min) Novolak Borden Novolak PGMEA/ 27 wt. % 3.0 1716 — PD-124-CAcetone (55:45) 1.5 1935 — TFE/NB PGMEA 33 6.0 2139 1.2 (Example 1)TFE/NB Chlorobenzene 32 3.0 1375 0.8 (Example 2) 1.5 1599 0.9 TFE/NBChlorobenzene  9 1.0 1250 0.7 (Example 3) TFE/NB/VAc Chlorobenzene 323.0 2134 1.2 (Example 7) 1.5 2323 1.4 TFE/NB/VAc Chlorobenzene 28 3.02843 1.7 (Example 8) 1.5 2330 1.4 TFE/NB/VAc Chlorobenzene 35 3.0 28861.7 (Example 9) 1.5 2532 1.5 TFE/NB/E/ Chlorobenzene 33 3.0 1287 0.8^(t)Bu Acrylate 1.5 1363 0.8 (Example 14) TFE/NB/ Chlorobenzene 33 3.01881 1.1 ^(t)Bu Acrylate 1.5 2043 1.2 (Example 15) TFE/NB/ Chlorobenzene33 3.0 2055 1.2 ^(t)Bu Acrylate 1.5 2357 1.4 (Example 16) TFE/NB/Chlorobenzene 33 3.0 2350 1.4 NB—CO₂ ^(t)Bu 1.5 2547 1.5 (Example 17)TFE/NB/ PGMEA 33 3.0 1990 1.2 NB—CO₂H 1.5 1869 1.1 (Example 18)

Example 23 Measurement of Optical Transparency at 248 and 193 nm

Films of the P(TFE/NB) copolymer from Example 2 and the P(TFE/NB/NB-CO₂^(t)Bu) terpolymer from Example 17 were spin coated onto quartzsubstrates at speeds of 3500-5500 rpm from solutions in chlorobenzene,and were dried in a vacuum oven at 100° C. for 16 hours in order toremove residual solvent (chlorobenzene), which strongly absorbs in theUV. Film thicknesses were about 2 μm, independent of the speed at whichthe films were spun. The UV absorbance spectra (μm⁻¹) of the two filmsare shown in FIG. 1. The optical absorption of both resins is negligibleat 248 nm. Both resins have very low absorptions at 193 nm (<0.2 μm⁻¹(of film thickness)), which would still allow them and/or relatedmaterials to be used as photoresists at this wavelength.

Example 24

A photoresist composition was made at 32.3% solids level as summarizedbelow:

Component Wt. (gm) (Copolymer from Example 15) 9.9 36/47/17 (mole %)TFE/NB/tBA Chlorobenzene 19.5 Mixed triaryl sulfoniumhexafluoroantimonate salts: 1.2 4-thiophenoxyphenyl diphenyl sulfoniumhexafluoro- antimonate and bis(4-(diphenylsulfonio)-phenyl)-sulfide-bis-hexafluoroantimonate [Sartomer SarCat ™ CD-1010, 50% solidssolution in propylene carbonate, Sartomer Co., Exton, PA] Methyl ethylketone (MEK) 2.0

This solution was magnetically stirred overnight. Spin coating was doneusing a Brewer Science Inc. Model-100CB combination spin coater/hotplateon a 6 in diameter silicon wafer, Type “P”, 1.00 orient. Development wasperformed on Litho Tech Japan, Resist Development Analyzer (RDA-790).

The wafer was prepared by depositing 6.0 ml of hexamethyldisilazane(HMDS) primer and spinning at 1000 rpm for 5 seconds. Then 6.0 ml of theabove solution was deposited and spun at 4500 rpm for 60 seconds andbaked at 90° C. for 60 seconds. The coating was imagewise exposed tobroadband UV light (350 to 450 nm) with an ORIEL Model-82421 SolarSimulator (1000 watt) for 15 seconds, which provided a dose of 19.7mJ/cm², and subsequently baked at 90° C. for 90 seconds through a UVphotomask on quartz (mask which is effective in blocking UV light inmasked portions throughout the UV). The imaged coating was developed for15 seconds at 23° C. in TMAH solution (ONKA NMD-3, 2.38 weight % ofTMAH) to give a positive image.

Example 25

A photoresist composition is made to 33% solids level in chlorobenzeneto afford a coating solution. Solid components of the composition areP(TFE/NB/tBA) from Example 15 (70.5 grams), t-butyl deoxycholate (28grams), and triphenylsulfonium hexafluorantimonate (1.5 grams). Thisresist solution is spin coated onto a 6″ diameter silicon wafer anddried at 150° C. The resist is digitally imaged using an ArF laser whichoutputs 193 nm UV light at a level 5 mJ/cm² and then baked at 90° C. for90 seconds. The resulting image-wise exposed resist sample is thensubjected to development using 0.262 N tetrabutylammonium hydroxide for1 minute. Development results in the UV-exposed resist portions beingremoved while the UV-unexposed portions remain, which thereby affords ahigh resolution and high contrast relief image of the positive-workingresist.

Example 26

This example is the same as Example 25 except that P(TFE/NB/5-NB-2-CO₂^(t)Bu) from Example 17 is used in place of P(TFE/NB/tBA). There resultsa high resolution and high contrast relief image of thispositive-working resist.

Example 27

P(TFE/NB/tBA/M) copolymer of composition 36 mol % TFE, 17 mol %tert-butyl acrylate, 10 mol % acrylic acid, and 37 mol % norbornene issynthesized following the general procedure given in Example 15 usingthe four comonomers—TFE, tBA, M, and NB. This example is the same asExample 25 except that P(TFE/NB/tBA/AA) is used in place ofP(TFE/NB/tBA). There results a high resolution and high contrast reliefimage of this positive-working resist.

Examples 28-30

These examples are the same as and correspond to Examples 25-27,respectively, except that in each of these examples, imaging is effectedusing 157 nm UV light from a F₂ excimer laser at a level of 5 mJ/cm²(instead of 193 nm UV light). There results a high resolution and highcontrast relief image of this positive-working resist.

Example 31

This example illustrates negative-working imaging of a silicon waferwith a resist comprised of TFE/NB/tBA copolymer, wherein the resist isdeveloped with an organic solvent.

Component Wt. (gm) (Copolymer prepared analogously to copolymers 2.6from Examples 15 and 16) 22/36/42 (mole %) TFE/NB/tBA Propylene glycolmethyl ether acetate (PGMEA) 8.3 5% (wt) Solution of Sartomer SarCatCD-1012 in PGMEA 2.8 that was filtered through a 0.45 μ PTFE syringefilter [SarCat CD-1012 is a solid diaryl iodonium hexafluoroanti- monatesalt-[4-(2-hydroxy-1-tetradecyloxy)phenyl]phenyl iodoniumhexafluoroantimonate]

The above components were mixed, and the resulting solution wasmagnetically stirred overnight. Spin coating was done using a BrewerScience, Inc. Model-100CB combination spin coater/hotplate on a 5 inchdiameter silicon wafer, Type “P”, 1.00 orient. The silicon wafer wasprepared by depositing 6 ml of hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) primer andspinning at 1000 rpm for 5 seconds and then 3500 rpm for 10 seconds.Then 6 ml of the above solution was deposited and spun at 2000 rpm for60 seconds and baked at 110° C. for 60 seconds. Half the coated waferwas exposed for 60 seconds to 248 nm light obtained by passing broadbandUV light from an ORIEL Model-82421 Solar Simulator (1000 waft) through a248 nm interference filter which passed about 30% of the energy at 248nm. The wafer was then baked at 110° C. for 120 seconds. The wafer wasdeveloped by dipping for 60 seconds in chlorobenzene at ambienttemperature and resulted in a negative-working image being produced(i.e., the portion(s) of the coated wafer that had been exposed to 248nm light was insoluble in the developer and remained on the wafer, whilethe portion(s) of the coated wafer that had not been exposed to 248 nmlight were soluble/dispersible in the developer and were removed duringthe course of development resulting in the negative-working image beingproduced).

Example 32

This example further illustrates negative-working imaging of a siliconwafer with a resist comprised of TFE/NB/tBA copolymer, wherein theresist is developed with an organic solvent.

Component Wt. (gm) (Copolymer prepared analogously to copolymers from3.8 Examples 15 and 16) 20/51/29 (mole %) TFE/NB/tBA Cyclohexanone 12.15% (wt) Solution of Sartomer SarCat CD-1012 in 4.1 cyclohexanone thatwas filtered through a 0.45 u PTFE syringe filter. [SarCat CD-1012 is asolid diaryl iodonium hexafluoro- antimonatesalt-[4-(2-hydroxy-1-tetradecyloxy)phenyl] phenyl iodoniumhexafluoroantimonate]

The above components were mixed, and the resulting solution wasprocessed in the same manner as in Example 31, including development inchlorobenzene. There resulted in a negative-working image being producedupon development in chlorobenzene.

Example 33

A 45/5/50 (mole %) copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), tert-butylacrylate (tBA), and the partially fluorinated bicyclic comonomer “A”shown below is synthesized following the general procedure given inExample 15. The copolymer is formulated into a photoresist by dissolvingit into chlorobenzene solvent to give a 25 weight % solution, and adding1 weight % (vs. copolymer) of a photoacid generator, which istriphenylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate. The resist solution is spincoated onto a 6″ diameter silicon wafer and dried at 150° C. The resistcomposition is exposed to 193 nm UV light (at a level of 5 mJ/cm² from aArF laser) through a mask. The exposed wafer is then baked at 90° C. for90 seconds, and then developed in critical CO₂ at 4,000 psi pressure and80° C. for 10 minutes. Development results in the unexposed portionsbeing removed while the UV-exposed portions remain, which therebyaffords a high resolution and high contrast negative-working image.

Comonomer A is prepared by reaction of perfluoropropylvinyl ether (1equivalent) with norbornadiene (4 equivalents) for 24 hours at 190° C.in a sealed metal pressure vessel. Liquid product is purified byspinning band distillation to afford pure cuts of the bicyclic comonomer“A” (and having boiling point=118° C. @99 mm).

Example 34

The resist solution from Example 33 is spin coated onto a 6″ diametersilicon wafer and dried at 150° C. The resist composition is exposed to193 nm UV light (at a level of 5 mJ/cm² from a ArF laser) through amask. The exposed wafer is then baked at 90° C. for 90 seconds, and thendeveloped in CF₃CFHCFHCF₂CF₃ (Vertrel XF®, commercially available fromE.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del.) for 1 minute at25° C. Development results in the unexposed portions being removed whilethe UV-exposed portions remain, thereby affording a high resolution andhigh contrast image from this negative-working photoresist.

Example 35 Synthesis of 1-Adamantanemethylvinyl Ether

A suspension of 1-adamantanemethanol (71 g, 0.43 mol) (Aldrich ChemicalCompany) and 1.0 g of mercuric acetate in 150 g of ethylvinyl ether wasrefluxed under nitrogen overnight. The resulting mixture wasconcentrated at 50° C. and 0.5 mm to a solid. The solid was suspended in150 g ethylvinyl ether with 1.0 g of mercuric acetate and refluxed forabout 72 hr giving a clear solution. This was concentrated as above andthe residue was mixed with another 150 g portion of ethylvinyl ether andrefluxed overnight. This solution was concentrated as above. The residuewas dissolved in 250 mL of hexane and washed with 2×50 mL of 5% aqueouspotassium carbonate solution. The hexane solution was dried overmagnesium sulfate, filtered and treated with 1.5 g of calcium hydride toconvert any remaining alcohol to a nonvolatile salt. The solution wasconcentrated on a rotary evaporator and the residue was distilled in aKugelrohr apparatus at 65-75° C. and 0.5 mm giving 67.2 g (81%) of whitesolid, mp 41-42° C. ¹H NMR (δ, CD₂Cl₂) 1.5 (s), 1.6 (m) and 1.8 (m) (15H), 3.2 (s, 2H), 3.9 (d, 1H), 4.1 (d, 1H), 6.5 (dd, 1H). Anal. Calcd forC₁₃H₂₀O: C, 81.20; H, 10.48; O, 8.32%. Found: C, 81.22; H, 9.85; O,8.07%.

Example 36 Synthesis of 2-Norbornanemethylvinyl Ether

A dry 1-L round bottom flask with condenser, thermocouple and magneticstirrer was swept with nitrogen and charged with 76.8 g (0.61 mol) of2-norbornanemethanol (Aldrich Chemical Company), 93.6 g (1.3 mol) ofethylvinyl ether (Aldrich Chemical Company) and 2.23 g of mercuricacetate. The resulting mixture was maintained at reflux for 48 hr. Theexcess ethylvinyl ether was evaporated under reduced pressure. Theresidue was dissolved in hexane and passed through a 5.5×35 cm column ofsilica gel eluting with hexane. The desired fractions were combined andconcentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was distilled in aKugelrohr apparatus at 45° C. and 0.1 mm pressure to give 49 g (53%) ofcolorless liquid. ¹H NMR (δ, CD₂Cl₂) 0.56-3.6 (complex multiplets, 13H), 3.98 (d, 1H), 4.21 (d, 1H), 6.47 (dd, 1H). Anal. Calcd for C₁₀H₁₆O:C, 78.90; H, 10.59; O, 10.51. Found: C, 78.70; H, 10.67; O, 10.21%.

Example 37 Synthesis of TFE/1-Adamantanemethylvinyl EtherCopolymer=P(TFE/AdVE)

The procedure of Example 20 was followed using 19.0 g (0.10 mol) of1-adamantanemethylvinyl ether, 0.1 g of potassium carbonate, 60 mL oftert-butanol, 0.3 g of Vazo® 52 and 15 g (0.15 mol) of TFE. The productconsisted of a white solid in a cloudy liquid. The liquid was decantedand the solid was dissolved in 200 mL of THF. The THF solution was addedslowly to excess methanol to precipiate the polymer. The white solid wasfiltered, washed with methanol and dried in a vacuum oven at roomtemperature overnight. There was isolated 21.1 g (62%) of white polymer;GPC (THF) M_(n) 37300, M_(W) 240600, M_(W)/M_(n) 6.5; Tg 121.4° C.Anal.: Found: C, 61.04; H, 6.69; F, 22.32%. From the percentage ofcarbon, the polymer is calculated to comprise 51 mole % of TFE and 49mole % of AdVE.

Example 38 Synthesis of TFE/2-Norbornanemethylvinyl EtherCopolymer=P(TFE/NbVether)

The procedure of Example 20 was followed using 15.2 g (0.10 mol) of2-norbornanemethylvinyl ether, 0.1 g of potassium carbonate, 60 mL oftert-butanol, 0.3 g of Vazo® 52 and 15 g (0.15 mol) of TFE. The productconsisted of a white solid in a cloudy liquid. The liquid was decantedand the solid was dissolved in 150 mL of THF. The THF solution was addedslowly to excess methanol to precipitate the polymer. The white solidwas filtered, washed with methanol and dried in a vacuum oven at roomtemperature overnight. There was isolated 23.7 g (74%) of white polymer;GPC (THF) M_(n) 57400, M_(W) 247000, M_(W)/M_(n) 4.3; Tg 66° C. Anal.:Found C, 56.57%; H, 6.32; F, 23.97%. From the percentage of carbon, thepolymer is calculated to comprise 51 mole % of TFE and 49 mole % ofNbVether.

Example 39

Copolymerization of TFE, Norbornene and

A 200 mL pressure vessel was charged with 14.1 g (0.15 mol) ofnorbornene, 45.6 g (0.15 mol) of the hexafluoroisopropanol-substitutednorbornene, 75 mL of 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane and 1.2 g ofPerkadox®16N. The vessel was closed, cooled in dry ice, evacuated andcharged with 45 g (0.45 mol) of tetrafluoroethylene. The vessel contentswere heated with agitation to 50° C. and maintained for 18 hr. Thevessel was cooled to room temperature and vented. The polymer solutionwas added slowly to excess hexane. The precipitate was dried in a vacuumoven at about 50° C. giving 3.5 g of polymer. ¹H NMR (δ, THF-d8) 0.6-4.0(complex pattern). ¹⁹F NMR (δ, THF-d8) −78.8 (s, CF₃ groups), −100 to−125 (m, CF₂). From the integral ratio of the ¹⁹F absorptions, the molarratio of tetrafluoroethylene units to hexafluoroisopropanol-substitutednorbornene repeat units in the polymer was determined to be 1.76:1.

Example 40 Measurement of Optical Transparency at 157 nm

Optical transparency data at 157 nm was determined using a spin-coatedfilm sample of each of the polymer samples as shown in the table below.For each film sample, the absorbance per micron of film thickness wasdetermined, which is designated as ABS/MICRON@157 NM in the table below.Compositions of the copolymers are given below in mole percentages ofeach comonomer in the order indicated.

EXAMPLE POLYMER ABS/MICRON @ 157 NM 2 P(TFE/NB) (52:48) 1.41 5 P(TFE/NB)(52:48) 1.34 3 P(TFE/NB) (46:54) 1.53 6 P(TFE/NB) (58:42) 1.23 15P(TFE/NB/tBA) (36:47:17) 2.44 16 P(TFE/NB/tBA) (28:38:34) 3.60 39P(NBFA) 3.00

Example 41 Measurement of Optical Transparency at 157 nm

Optical transparency data at 157 nm was determined using a spin-coatedfilm sample of each of the polymer samples as shown in the table below.For each film sample, the absorbance per micron of film thickness wasdetermined, which is designated as ABS/MICRON@157 NM in the table below.Compositions of the copolymers are given below in mole percentages ofeach comonomer in the order indicated.

EXAMPLE POLYMER ABS/MICRON @ 157 NM 37 P(TFE/AdVE) 2.1

Example 42 Synthesis of TFE/1-AdamantanemethylvinylEther/CH₂═CHOCH₂CH₂OCH₂C(CF₃)₂OH/tert-Butyl Acrylate Tetrapolymer

A 200 mL pressure vessel was charged with a solution of 15.4 g (0.08mol) 1-adamantanemethylvinyl ether, 21.4 g (0.08 mol)CH₂═CHOCH₂CH₂OCH₂C(CF₃)₂OH (synthesis used for this comonomer isprovided below), 5.1 g (0.04 mol) tert-butyl acrylate, 0.5 g potassiumcarbonate, 60 mL tert-butanol and 15 mL isopropanol. Vazo® 52 (0.4 g)was added. The vessel was closed, purged with nitrogen, evacuated andcharged with 24 g (0.24 mol) of tetrafluoroethylene. The vessel contentswere agitated for 18 hr at 50° C. as the internal pressure decreasedfrom 329 to 179 psi. The vessel was cooled to room temperature, ventedand the contents recovered using acetone to rinse. The mixture wasfiltered, concentrated on a rotary evaporator to about 60% of itsinitial volume, and added slowly to a 12-fold excess of hexane. Thetacky precipitate was collected and air dried at room temperature. Itwas dissolved in 160 mL of THF and precipitated by adding this solutionslowly to an excess of cold water in a blender. The precipitated polymerwas collected and dried in a vacuum oven overnight at 65-70° C. Yieldwas 36.7 g (56%) of a polymer foam. GPC (THF) Mn 59000, Mw 130300, Mw/Mn2.21. ¹H NMR (δ, THF-d8) 1.43 (s, C(CH₃)₃), 1.5-2.1 (m, adamantanehydrogens+CH₂CH from tert-butyl acrylate), 2.3-2.8 (broad, backbone CH₂groups from vinyl ether monomers), 3.2 and 3.35 (m, AdCH₂), 3.7 (s,CH₂C(CF₃)₂), 3.9 (s, OCH₂CH₂O) and 4.1-4.4 (m, backbone CH from vinylethers). ¹⁹F NMR (δ, THF-d8) −75.7 (s, CF₃), −108 to −125 (M, CF₂). Fromintegration of appropriate resonances in the NMR spectra, the polymerwas calculated to comprise approximately 38 mole % TFE, 22 mole %1-adamantanemethylvinyl ether, 22 mole % CH₂═CHOCH₂CH₂OCH₂C(CF₃)₂OH and17 mole % tert-butyl acrylate.

Anal. Found: C, 47.94; H, 5.05; F, 35.13.Synthesis of CH₂═CHOCH₂CH₂OCH₂C(CF₃)₂OH  (2)

A dry 5-L round bottom flask equipped with mechanical stirrer, condenserand addition funnel was flushed with nitrogen and charged with 14.2 g(0.59 mol) of 95% sodium hydride and 400 mL of anhydrous DMF. Thismixture was cooled to 10° C. and 41.6 g (0.47 mol) of2-hydroxyethylvinyl ether was added dropwise over ½ hr. An additional250 mL of DMF were added and the mixture was stirred for 1 hr.1,1-Bis(trifluoromethyl)ethylene oxide (1, Hexafluoro-isobutyleneepoxide) (85 g, 0.47 mol) was added over 1 hr at 20-23° C. The resultingsuspension was stirrer for 22 hr. It was then transferred to a one-neckflask and most of the DMF was removed on a rotary evaporator at 0.1 mmand 29° C. The residue was dissolved in 250 mL of water and 10%hydrochloric acid was carefully added until the solution pH was about 8.An oil which separated was collected, washed with water and dried over amixture of anhydrous sodium sulfate and potassium carbonate. The mixturewas filtered and the filtrate was distilled in a Kugelrohr apparatus at0.5 mm and 50-59° C. from a small amount of anhydrous potassiumcarbonate to give 89 g (71%) of oil which was stored over potassiumcarbonate and characterized to be compound 2. ¹H NMR (δ, C₆D₆) 3.12 (d,2H), 3.28 (d, 2H), 3.60 (s, 2H), 3.90 (d, 1H), 4.07 (d, 1H), 6.20 (dd,1H). ¹⁹F NMR (δ, C₆D₆) −76.89 (s).

Example 43

The following solution was prepared and magnetically stirred overnight.

Component Wt. (gm) TFE tetrapolymer from Example 42 1.30 Propyleneglycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA) 12.1 t-Butyl Lithocholate 0.45 5%(wt) solution of triphenylsulfonium triflate dissolved in 1.12cyclohexanone which was filtered through a 0.45 μ PTFE syringe filter

Spin coating of the above solution was done using a Brewer Science Inc.Model-100CB combination spin coater/hotplate on a 4 in. diameter siliconwafer, Type “P”, 1.00 orient. Development was performed on a Litho TechJapan Co. Resist Development Analyzer (Model-790).

The wafer was prepared by depositing 6 ml of hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS)primer and spinning at 1000 rpm for 5 sec. and then 3500 rpm for 10 sec.Then 6 ml of the above solution, after filtering through a 0.45μ PTFEsyringe filter, was deposited and spun at 5000 rpm for 60 seconds andbaked at 120° C. for 60 seconds. The coated wafer was exposed to 248 nmlight obtained by passing broadband UV light from an ORIEL Model-82421Solar Simulator (1000 watt) through a 248 nm interference filter whichpasses about 30% of the energy at 248 nm. Exposure time was 30 seconds,providing a dose of 20.5 mJ/cm², through a mask with 18 positions ofvarying neutral optical density to allow various exposure doses. Theexposed wafer was then baked at 120° C. for 120 seconds. The wafer wasdeveloped for 60 seconds at 23° C. in aqueous tetramethylammoniumhydroxide (TMAH) solution (ONKA NMD-W, 2.38% TMAH solution) to give apositive image.

1. A fluorine-containing polymer comprising a repeat unit derived from a comonomer having the structure:

wherein m is 0, 1 or 2; R¹ to R⁸ are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a carboxyl group, a hydrocarbon group of 1 to about 20 carbon atoms or a heteroatom substituted hydrocarbon group of 1 to about 20 carbon atom, the heteroatom being one or more oxygen atoms, nitrogen atoms or sulfur atoms; X is an oxygen atom or a direct bond; R_(f) is a straight chain or branched perfluoroalkyl group of from 1 to 10 carbon atoms.
 2. The fluorine containing polymer of claim 1 further comprising a repeat unit derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated compound containing at least one fluorine atom covalently attached to an ethylenically unsaturated carbon atom.
 3. The fluorine containing polymer of claim 2 wherein the ethylenically unsaturated compound is selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, trifluoroethylene, vinylidene fluoride, vinyl fluoride perfluoro-(2,2-perfluoro-(2-methylene-4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane),dimethyl-1,3-dioxole), CF₂═CFO(CF₂)_(t)CF═CF₂, where t is 1 or 2, and R_(f)OCF═CF₂ wherein Rf is a saturated fluoroalkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms.
 4. The fluorine containing polymer of claim 3 wherein the ethylenically unsaturated compound is tetrafluoroethylene or chlorotrifluoroethylene.
 5. The fluorine containing polymer of claim 1 wherein R_(f) is selected from the group consisting of CF_(3,) C₂F₅ and C₃F₇.
 6. The fluorine-containing polymer of claim 1 wherein R₁-R₈ provides a functionality selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic acid and a protected acid group.
 7. A process for preparing a photoresist image on a substrate comprising, in order: (W) applying a photoresist composition on a substrate, wherein the photoresist composition comprises (a)the fluorine-containing polymer of claim 1; and (b) a photoactive component, and (c) a solvent; (X) drying the coated photoresist composition to substantially remove the solvent and thereby to form a photoresist layer on the substrate; (Y) imagewise exposing the photoresist layer to form imaged and non-imaged areas; and (Z) developing the exposed photoresist layer having imaged and non-imaged areas to form a relief image on the substrate.
 8. The process of claim 7 wherein the exposed layer is developed with an aqueous alkaline developer.
 9. The process of claim 7 wherein imagewise exposing the photoresist layer is performed with ultraviolet radiation having wavelength of 193 nm.
 10. The process of claim 7 wherein imagewise exposing the photoresist layer is performed with ultraviolet radiation having wavelength of 157 nm.
 11. A photoresist comprising: (a) a fluorine-containing polymer comprising a repeat unit derived from a comonomer having the structure:

wherein m is 0, 1 or 2; R¹ to R⁸ are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a carboxyl group, a hydrocarbon group of 1 to about 20 carbon atoms or a heteroatom substituted hydrocarbon group of 1 to about 20 carbon atom, the heteroatom being one or more oxygen atoms, nitrogen atoms or sulfur atoms; X is an oxygen atom or a direct bond; R_(f) is a straight chain or branched perfluoroalkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms; and (b) a photoactive component, wherein the fluorine-containing polymer contains sufficient acid functionality to render the photoresist developable so as to produce relief images, upon imagewise exposure to ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength of ≦365 nm.
 12. The photoresist of claim 11 wherein the fluorine-containing polymer further comprises a repeat unit derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated compound containing at least one fluorine atom covalently attached to an ethylenically unsaturated carbon atom.
 13. The photoresist of claim 12 wherein the ethylenically unsaturated compound is selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, trifluoroethylene, vinylidene fluoride, vinyl (2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxole),fluoride, perfluoro-(2-methylene-4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane), CF₂═CFO(CF₂)_(t)CF═CF₂, where t is 1 or 2, and R_(f)OCF═CF₂ wherein R_(f) is a saturated fluoroalkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms.
 14. The photoresist of claim 13 wherein the ethylenically unsaturated compound is tetrafluoroethylene or chlorotrifluoroethylene.
 15. The photoresist of claim 11 wherein R_(f) is selected from the group consisting of CF_(3,) C₂F₅ and C₃F₇.
 16. The photoresist of claim 11 further comprising a solvent.
 17. The photoresist of claim 11 wherein the photoactive component is a photoacid generator or a photobase generator.
 18. The photoresist of claim 11 further comprising a dissolution inhibitor.
 19. An article of manufacture comprising a substrate having coated thereon a photoresist comprising: (a) a fluorine-containing polymer comprising a repeat unit derived from a comonomer having the structure:

wherein m is 0, 1 or 2; R¹ to R⁸ are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a carboxyl group, a hydrocarbon group of 1 to about 20 carbon atoms or a heteroatom substituted hydrocarbon group of 1 to about 20 carbon atom, the heteroatom being one or more oxygen atoms, nitrogen atoms or sulfur atoms; X is oxygen or a direct bond; R_(f) is a straight chain or branched perfluoroalkyl group of from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and (b) a photoactive component, wherein the fluorine-containing polymer contains sufficient functionality to render the photoresist developable so as to produce relief images, upon imagewise exposure to ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength of ≦365 nm.
 20. The article of claim 19 wherein the substrate is a microelectronic wafer. 